In the age of hard-surface floors, rugs play a key role in rounding out a corporate or hospitality space’s interior design. Depending on how you use it, the right rug can tie a room together with a subtle, cohesive thread — or it can stand out as an attention-grabbing statement piece. The difference often comes down to the choice between a patterned or solid-color option.
Read on for some tips to choose a rug that complements the rest of your design instead of competing with it.
Consider the size of your space
Patterns can be overwhelming in small spaces. If you’re working in a cramped or crowded room, it’s a good idea to stick to light, solid colors for your decor.
If you just can’t bear the thought of your space looking bland without any texture, you can get away with a patterned rug as long as you opt for one with a large design. Avoid tight, repeating graphics like small chevron — instead, opt for light, airy images with plenty of space between them.
Our Bamboo and Tsubomi patterns are good examples of rugs that can open up a small room.
Think about the other design elements you want to include
As a general design rule, you should only have one standout pattern in a space. Patterns add a lot of visual weight — including too many can make a room feel unbalanced, negatively affecting the subconscious experience of guests and employees.
For this reason, it’s important to consider the other design elements you want to include before you settle on a patterned or solid-color rug.
Furniture
If your furniture is patterned, your rug should be a solid color. This prevents your space from feeling too busy with competing visual elements.
There are a few exceptions, though:
- If you’re feeling bold, you can match the pattern on your rug to the pattern on your furniture. We don’t recommend this for small spaces — but it can be an effective way to make a statement in a large room.
- If the pattern on your furniture is subtle, you should be able to get away with a patterned rug as well. The key is to balance the patterns — make sure one is more understated than the other so they don’t compete to be the focal point of your design.
Wall Coverings
Believe it or not, patterned wallpaper is making a comeback. As striking as it can be when thoughtfully incorporated, it generally doesn’t mesh well with bold rugs — between your wall coverings and your floor coverings, you should limit yourself to one statement pattern.
Flooring
Any rug will look beautiful against subtle hardwood or understated tile — but if your floors are patterned in any way, you should stick to solid-color options.
While it is possible to successfully include multiple patterns in a space, we don’t recommend laying them directly on top of each other. It can quickly become too much for the eyes to take in! Instead, opt for a solid-color rug and consider incorporating a complementary pattern on your walls.
Balance color, patterns, and texture together
The most important thing in any interior design is visual balance. When choosing between a patterned or solid-color rug, consider how each option will fit into the rest of the space. Here are a few general guidelines:
- If you’re using bright colors, avoid busy patterns.
- If you have textured walls or furniture, stick to rugs that are solid in color or have only subtle patterns.
- Avoid using two similarly dense patterns in the same space. If you feel compelled to mix and match, opt for one tight, repeating graphic and one loose, airy one.
With that said, part of the fun of interior design is breaking the rules. Don’t be afraid to push the limits when it comes to color, patterns, and texture — just make sure you always come back to a sense of balance.
Find the perfect rug for your next interior design
Now that you know whether a patterned or solid-color rug will work best in your corporate or hospitality design, it’s time to start shopping for the perfect option. Endless Knot has a wide selection of ready-to-ship rugs — and we can also create a custom hand-knotted rug to your exact specifications.
Get in touch with one of our representatives today to see how our ancient traditions and modern designs can add the perfect touch to your next project. We’re here to make the process as easy as possible!